"And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world
but lose your own soul in the process?
Is anything worth more than your soul?"
Matt. 16:27
(New Living Translation)
October 14th, 1999 at 5 p.m. CT. I awoke, feeling as though the weight of the world was on my shoulders. I recalled talking with the children, should I go to work? As I made my decision, the phone rang. The voice on the other end was so distraught, my father was weeping uncontrollably. "Keffie", he said, "this is your daddy, Keffieann, Ken's dead". On impulse, I dropped the phone, and from my gut I screamed out. Immediately, I re-gained composure, it was as if God had audibly spoken. "Be still and know that I am God".
For the first time, my immediate family, was now faced with planning a burial. A dear son, brother, and a loving father of three small children. We had lost a family 'Gem', who always made certain that his family was always comfortable, in every aspect of their lives. He lived to please others, while living a full life of his own. In my immediate family, birthdays, and special holidays were changed forever. The church family visited, and they brought beautiful words of comfort, telling about special favors my brother had done for them, and for the church. He was always giving.
Eph. 2:8,9 "Salvation is not a reward for the good things we've done..." New Living Translation
Raised in the Seventh Day Adventist church, with a church school education, somehow, my brother always wanted more. He desired riches, and wealth. He wanted the best for his children. He married at a young age, and by his twenty fifth birthday, he owned his first home. He worked two jobs, an accountant by day, and a casino dealer by night. This was not satisfying to him; he soon started his first business in his son's bedroom, as an Import/Export dealer. He was the people's pleaser; therefore, his business did very well. Eventually he became a full time entrepreneur, including car rentals and sales, and patio resurfacing.
His life was extremely extravagant. His success was no secret. Each birthday, there was a trip planned, and a party given in his honor. He never needed a reason to give a party. He owned from a Rolls Royce, to a Ford Escort, a boat, jet skies, town homes, a lake front guest cottage and a mansion with less than one months construction to completion. He had too many clothes, seemed like we'd never give them all away. He wore a diamond Rolex watch. His children's, and their mother's needs were always met, and their wants as well.
About nine years into his marriage, he got a divorce, his crime, adultery. The mistress, his next door neighbor, his son's God Mother, and his wife's best friend. They were to wed December 1999. Man proposes, but God disposes. Our ways, are not His ways.
Just two months before the new millennium, Ken had come home on the evening of October 14th, 1999, and there he was killed, in the presence of his soon to be step daughter, who was thirteen at the time.
After his burial, as we reflected on his life, and his character traits, the questions were tormenting, "Was his heart right with God?" "Will he be in heaven?" Yes, he hardly missed a Sabbath service; he paid his tithe, and gave a liberal offering. He helped people of the church, and his work community, he gave liberally to his family, and friends. But the question remained, "What about his character?"
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34
There is nothing inherently evil about owning the things we need. However, when we strive to collect wealth or possessions beyond our need, we may neglect our duty to God, to our families, and to mankind.
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV, Matthew 6:24-25, 31-33)
The craving for wealth and possessions can lead us into all kinds of temptation. Evenings and weekends were spent earning extra money, or partying, eventually depriving his family of love and attention. Ken had lived a full life, but at what price? First he lost his marriage, and his health was deteriorating. His most common remark when asked how he was doing, was, "I'm stressed out." Zantac, and Valium had become his mate.
"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." (NIV, Proverbs 23:4-5)
To this day, the Rolls Royce has not been driven. The boat and jet skies were sold. The children now live of the income from the town homes. No one has lived in the guest cottage, (where he was killed), and the construction of the main house was never completed. The office place sits and bushes, and weeds lace its outer walls. The business that was generated there, all died, when Ken did. The Rolex was taken at the time of his death. Moth and rust are destroying these treasures, where thieves have broken in, and killed. Bible prophecy has been fulfilled.
So, we live with hope. He was shot, one bullet to his heart. He died within minutes. The murder was never solved. Did he make all wrongs right with God? I don't know. Was he living a life in harmony with God? What did his character show? I loved my brother dearly, and prayed for him unceasingly, just prior to his death. He was moving too fast. He needed a host of friends around all the time. I feared for his life, and prayed for his soul salvation. I believe God hears our intercessory prayers. Our oldest brother, along with our father, talked with Ken to no avail, it seemed. I know that God allowed this terrible thing to happen, and I do not question God. One thing is certain, the Angels, along with the Saviour, felt the lost we've experienced. Just as we, the parents, sisters, and brothers, including his children, miss our time with Ken, so does God our Father. How is it with you, and I? What does our character show? Where is our heart? There is only one thing we will take with us from this earth to heaven, 'Our character'.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (NIV, Matthew 6:19-21)
This is a true story, many contents were omitted in respect to my two nieces, and nephew, and my parents.
It is my prayer, that this testimony, will make a difference, in your outlook on life, And your salvation.
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Additional text
God, flee from all this, and People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief. But you, man of pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.(NIV, 1 Timothy 6:9-11)
Read: 1 Timothy 6:17-19)
He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-- this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him. (NIV, Isaiah 33:15-16)
CONTACT KEFFIE A, AT:- keffieb@aol
P.O.BOX 656
ARP, TX 75750
PH. 903-565-4062
Telephone
242-322-6273
Postal address
PAUL MILLER
P.O.BOX N8993
NASSAU, BAHAMAS.